The Brainerd City Council’s next regular meeting will be virtual instead of in-person at city hall.
With five assessment hearings scheduled, staff recommended having the meeting virtually, as too many people may show up to ensure proper social distancing practices.
The following assessment hearings are set for the Oct. 19 council meeting:
2020 nuisance abatement and downtown special services district.
Old Stonebridge trail final lift.
Northeast Brainerd resurfacing project, including work on J, L, O and P streets, and 10th and 11th avenues northeast.
Northeast Brainerd reconstruction project, including work on B, C and D streets and Fifth Avenue Northeast.
Buffalo Hills Lane and Mississippi Drive reconstruction project.
The council approved a final payment for the Buffalo Hills Lane project, coming to a total of $1,722,098.58. The original contract amount was about $1.56 million based upon estimated quantities. After four change orders, the revised contract amount was $1,654,485.73. The final cost is 3.93% higher than the revised contract. City Engineer Paul Sandy said in a memo to the council anything less than a 5% increase over the contract amount is considered acceptable due to the nature of construction and variability during the project. The change in price, Sandy said, will likely raise assessments by about $200 from the original estimate.
During the hearings, property owners can contest assessment amounts if they choose. Written appeals can be submitted to the city prior to the meeting, if a property owner cannot attend the hearing.
The council will use WebEx for the Oct. 19 meeting. Details on how to access the meeting will be available during the week before the meeting.
ADVERTISEMENT
In other business Oct. 5, the council:
Approved the 2021 shared services agreement with Crow Wing County, amended from previous years. The new agreement — which covers maintenance services at city hall, the police department, fire department and library — covers 1,500 labor hours at a cost of $96,600. Previous agreements have covered 2,080 hours, though staff found that many hours were rarely used.
Authorized the police department to enter into a cooperative agreement with the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety for the fiscal year 2021 Toward Zero Deaths traffic safety enforcement grant. The city earned a grant of $54,150, an increase of nearly $2,000 from the previous year.
Approved an event/street closure application for the annual St. Francis School Marathon, set for 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Oct. 14, on portions of North Ninth, North 10th, Juniper and Kingwood streets near the school.
Approved final payment for the 2020 crack seal project to Lot Pros, Inc. for $12,644.48. The city budgeted $25,000 for the project.
Approved a quote from PCiRoads to replace the east and west end expansion joint gland on the Laurel Street bridge at a cost of $18,459.60. Staff found a defective expansion joint gland was the main reason for the bridge’s partial washout earlier this year.
Tabled a request to turn back on a streetlight on Crestview Drive near the intersection of Norway Court after it was turned off about eight years ago. The request came from a resident, but the council agreed to poll the rest of the neighbors before making a decision.
Approved a lease agreement with Kevtel Corp. for tower space for the transit department’s two-way radio equipment at an annual cost of $4,800 for three years plus a 2% annual increase for the second and third years. The previous agreement was $4,200 a year. The lease is paid through the transit service’s operating dollars, which come from a grant agreement with the state and local share dollars from fares.
ADVERTISEMENT
Appointed Kevin Yeager and Rylie Weber to the city’s new parking commission.
THERESA BOURKE may be reached at theresa.bourke@brainerddispatch.com or 218-855-5860. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DispatchTheresa .
